Ably Chat has introduced Message Reactions as a native feature, enhancing the modern chat experience by allowing users to express themselves through various reaction types. Each reaction is defined by a string, often a UTF-8 emoji, and can be aggregated in real-time based on its name. The platform supports three reaction types—Unique, Distinct, and Multiple—each offering different aggregation rules and interactive possibilities akin to those found in WhatsApp, Slack, and Medium. Developers can easily configure these reactions per room or message, and the Ably Chat SDK efficiently manages and broadcasts summary events to keep the UI updated. This feature utilizes server-side batching to optimize performance and bandwidth, and is seamlessly integrated with Ably's global edge network. Though currently experimental, Ably is committed to expanding its chat functionalities, with plans for richer interactivity and AI-powered features in the future.